Burger Bar Chicago
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1578 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60642 Near North Side - Get Directions
- Phone number (312) 255-0055
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Business website burgerbarchicago.com
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“With truffle fries that tasted like decadent potato chips and I mean that in the best way possible.” in 128 reviews
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“I had the special Rueben burger & sweet potato tots - both were excellent.” in 51 reviews
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“The fried pickles are served with "urban sauce" which is nothing short of amazing.” in 71 reviews
Recommended Reviews
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- Elites
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- Lisa L.
- Chicago, IL
- 3 friends
- 8 reviews
7/28/2015
2 check-insGreat deals Tuesday-Thursday on drinks and food. There's always a beer of the month. For about $40 you can join the mug club. Also on the weekends since I went last month there's drink specials.
I've been going here for about 4 years, well...since they opened. I would always order the el fuego with turkey patty instead of beef but they stopped making it. Now I order the powerhouse about once a month which is great because it's freshly made, not a frozen veggie patty. I HEART the truffle fries, I like the smell.
The milkshakes are beyond yum and usually topped with whip cream and recess pieces.They allow you to mix them too. I sometimes mix Nutella and peanutbutter.
The fried pickles are the best I've had I. Chicago! -
- Traveling Foodie S.
- Chicago, IL
- 1 friend
- 28 reviews
7/12/2015
Went for Sunday lunch. Parking is street or valet. If you're familiar with Chicago parking, valet is worth it. Only $5 valet during Sunday lunch. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Great atmosphere. For this visit we sat outside.
We had the fried pickle which was pleasantly long and perfectly crispy. Other places, they were small and round. Also, had the corn elote which were delicious. For our entree, we had lamb burgers which were cooked perfectly to our preference - medium, and flavorful. We had sweet potatoes as a side which were yummy. Both appetizers and entree were generous portion. I would definitely come back again. -
- Edyta P.
- Lyons, IL
- 101 friends
- 2 reviews
7/2/2015
7 check-insEveryone needs a good burger....
The burger choices are great. My fav is the shrimp burger - ask them to make it spicier of you like your food with a little more zest. Also all the choices are very unique or as plain as you want them to be.
But today I had the monthly special and it was delish. The lamb meatball burger...highly recommenced! They really make the meat the way you like it....add some sweet potatoes fries and for all the pickles lover have the fried pickles! It's a must. That is how I got hook to this place in the first place. I am not a beer lover...but, if you are - the selection is there.
I don't give this place five stars only for the food but also for the fun, swagy team that works there. You guys do it right. Keep having fun at work!
If you going to have a burger get one that will satisfy your cravings.....be adventurist and try those fried pickles as well! -
8/7/2015
1 check-inSweet potato tots are not sweet potato tater tots!! I was fooled! It's literally chunks of sweet potato deep fried. SO what is the huge difference? Well one point is that tater tots are shredded and tater tots have something secret added. This, on the other hand, was a huge disappointment to my food adventure. I walked so far for this! It was crispy but it wasn't a tater tot!
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- Stephanie L.
- Chicago, IL
- 554 friends
- 1116 reviews
- Elite ’15
5/8/2015
1 check-inThe BEST fried pickles I've ever had! YUM
The burgers were pretty damn good as well. Fries were decent. Service was on par.
Indoor and outdoor seating.
Their fire sauce was seriously hot! I loved it.
We will definitely be back for more grub and soon! -
7/3/2015
1 check-inThis is a true Chicago gem! Great Burgers (high quality meat, big portions), large rotating beer selection, unique sides. This place starts with a great burger then adds a topper, which is like a whole other sandwich- so think a burger with a pulled pork sandwich built in! Mine had sausages and bacon, so yum. Also- the tempura battered green beans are a must have! If you leave hungry YOU did something wrong.
The staff is courteous and attentive, the decor is casual and utilitarian. Simple. They focus on the food and dont need flash. -
- C.C. H.
- Chicago, IL
- 2 friends
- 38 reviews
8/7/2015
I'm ready to declare this my favorite rock burger bar in Chicago. Maybe it's not as metal as Kuma or as hardcore as Lockdown, but I think Burger Bar has the best lean-to-fat ratio in its burgers, gluten-free buns for my friends, and appropriate sizing and excellent toppings for burgers that are just right. The wings here are also great and only $5 for 10 wings(!) on Tuesdays along with $3 Goose Island drafts. The music is also less loud at lunch at least and the restaurant is very spacious. Staff was also very friendly and knowledgeable.
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Sassy wings with spicy chili-ginger glaze and sriracha aioli (so good)Sassy wings with spicy chili-ginger glaze and sriracha aioli (so good)
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2/23/2015
The burgers are ok. Build your own is your best bet. I had the hot and smokey...it wasn't hot, nor smokey and instead of pulled pork I'm pretty sure it was just stringy pot roast on top. At $14-16 per burger Id say it's overpriced.
The Mac and cheese is great.
The truffle fries are pretty terrible. They don't have much of a truffle taste and the fries are really oily so it's quite off putting. I had two and gave up.
They seem to have great beers and the staff is very friendly so it's a shame the food was lacking.-
Build your own burger with jalapeños, Swiss and onions.Build your own burger with jalapeños, Swiss and onions.
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- Nia M.
- Chicago, IL
- 45 friends
- 10 reviews
7/26/2015
This place holds a special part of my heart now. Fried pickles are delicious, the dipping sauce is spot on. They have poutine and it just gets better with a fried egg. My boyfriend got the shrimp burger and he said it was amazing! I got the High Hog with has bbq pulled pork, thick cut bacon, smoked ham and apple-cabbage slaw...best burger I've had in a while. Paired with a spicy Bloody Mary and you're good to go! I will be returning.
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5/30/2015
Food - 4 star. Beer list - 3 star. Service - 2 star.
I am torn. The burgers were good but the service was less than adequate and given the chilly spring we've been having, nearly froze until we moved seats as the front door opens right into the bar dining area. When that Chicago wind blows in, if you're sitting in the front room, watch out.
We put our name on the wait list and headed to the bar. Had a hard time flagging down a bartender as she seemed very interested in chatting with a group of 3 girls at the far end of the bar. Given I was at the other end and she was the only one back there, good luck to me. Even the drink orders seemed to stack up from the waitstaff. I would come to find out later this to be the case as once we were seated, beers were very hard to come by.
Once we did sit down we were near the aforementioned front door.
Pro tip - do NOT sit near the front door. I would think you'd have the same issue in the summer instead of freezing, you'd be sweating. Either way, no fun to eat that way.
Once we moved our sever seemed overwhelmed. We got menus and then off she went. Not to return for some time. Once we placed our order, our food came out but no condiments, napkins or silverware.
Once we tracked down a manager, we got what we needed but we wanted another beer. Good luck to us. By the time it came, we were done with our food. So we downed the beers and split as the crowd was getting "Bro-ish" and drunk, bumping into our table, etc. Not cool bro, not cool.
If you were in the area say shopping I'd say go for lunch or mid afternoon as you might have a better experience. -
5/7/2015
Delicious is what I have to say about Burger Bar. Not sure if it's because I was starved upon arrival but boy did it smell GOOD upon entry...
My dining companion and I were quickly seated by the hostess in the dining room area and were blown away by the selection of burgers on their menu. I was tempted to go hog wild and get one of their more crazy burgers but my knowledge that my eyes are generally larger than my stomach led me to end up splitting the Bar Cheese Burger with Truffle Fries and the Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon with my companion.
It ended up being PLENTY of food and boy was it great. Their mac was full of fresh, crispy bacon - no fake bacon bits to be found at Burger Bar! The burger was also perfectly cooked on a fresh bun and served with an ample amount of horseradish cheddar spread on top. I also have to say that the Truffle Fries are worth the $1 up charge, there are a ton of them and they're a pile of hot, fresh cut deliciousness.
Now, you're probably asking yourself why this rave review doesn't have more than three stars. Here's my answer... the service. Our waiter wasn't overtly rude but seemed consistently in a hurry to move on from our table. Each time we were ready to order, whether it be our appetizer, our beers, or our meal, he rushed us along and could not get away from our table fast enough. Normally I am fairly easy to please when it comes to servers but something about him really rubbed me the wrong way.
I hope to be back to Burger Bar again, experience better service, and update this review because boy is the food good! -
- Katherine L.
- Northbrook, IL
- 45 friends
- 142 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/2/2015
1 check-inI passed this spot every week while en route to my kickball games, and I finally had a chance to eat there. It was pretty quiet when my friend and I visited - the staff was very nice and we were seated promptly. We ordered the fried beans - dilly beans that were deep fried were beyond delicious! I've always had a thing for dilly beans since one of closest friends had a dad that canned these every year. So it was reminiscent of my past and kicked up 100 notches...I don't know what kind of batter they used but I highly recommend these. I got a BYO burger, medium rare, with tomato, grilled onion, lettuce. Yes, not particularly interesting but it was executed wonderfully. Perhaps a bit bloody but flavorful and really big. I scarfed it down with my sweet potato fries. I really tried to keep room in my stomach for the milkshake as dessert, but I just couldn't fit anymore my stomach for fear that it would push me along several months with my already bulging food baby from the evening. Definitely will be back.
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BYO burger...seriously delicious burger and outstanding sweet potato friesBYO burger...seriously delicious burger and outstanding sweet potato fries
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- Jeffrey C.
- Chicago, IL
- 480 friends
- 907 reviews
- Elite ’15
12/19/2014
1 check-inBurger Bar offers a pretty solid burger at fairly outrageous prices. There are a lot of burger choices in the Lincoln Park area, and we just so happened to choose Burger Bar for lunch due solely to proximity.
Though there's no private lot, Burger Bar does have adjacent parking for a fiver, which is convenient since street parking isn't plentiful around those parts. Per the name, Burger Bar double as a bar with a solid beer listing, and the experience likely would have been better as a boozy lunch or evening dinner. Alas, it was just the burger for us.
Specialty burgers are in the $12 - $17 range, and come with a side (i.e., fries) whether you want them or not. Yeah, it's Lincoln Park rents at Kuma's Corner prices. I went with the first on the menu, the Firehouse burger, and liked everything about it.
The patty, in silo, is delicious and chipotle spiced. The chorizo topping reminded me of the many chili-cheese burgers I used to get in Texas, and I likely would've eaten the chorizo on its own if you gave me some Valentina, queso, and a fork. Add some pepper jack (my favorite burger cheese), and I enjoyed myself. I was expecting a Kuma's like whopper of a burger, but it wasn't overtly big and just a little over-indulgent for lunch.
My wife went with the chicken burger (she's not the beef type). Though we didn't ask, it also wasn't proffered that the specialty burgers could be made chicken-style. As it was, the chicken burger is simple, ground chicken with arugula, tomato, and a pesto aioli. Like the burger, this also comes standard with side.
The fries were pretty standard, kind of Five Guys-esque sans cajun seasoning. Sweet potato fries were as you'd expect. I'd have liked some regular tots, but they only have sweet potato tots on the menu. -
4/8/2015
Went here with the little monsters and that dude I married. It was actually the oldest little monster that picked this place out since she's a cheeseburger fiend, and we happily obliged because -YAY! Craft beer!
I preferred the regular fries over the truffle fries, but both were good, really. All of the food was good.
We started off with Bacon Lollipops because the man's eyes about popped out of his head when he saw them on the menu. Bacon wrapped around asian spiced pork belly with a cider glaze and popped on a stick. It's a meaty siren song. 3 come to an order, so you may want to order more than one if your friends plan on sharing with you (suckers, who shares bacon?)
I had the firehouse with a fried egg on top. I love that you can add extra stuff to their other burgers, and that it's not just limited to the Build-Your-Own. I love spicy, and eggs on burgers are wonderful things, so I was very happy with my burger. Excellently cooked and it tasted great. The firehouse is a chipotle spiced burger with charred jalapeno and scallion relish, pepperjack, and guajilli aioli. I did not get it diablo style as I wasn't sure how spicy it would be, but next time I defintely would. I like a lot of heat though, so if you just like medium spiciness you'll be good.
The man had the big shoulder blues, it's a peppercorn burger with blue cheese, sweet onion bacon jam, and port wine glaze. He also loved it. It reheated really well too, which is NOT always the case with burgers.
The little people had a pb&j and 2 mini cheeseburgers. The pb&j comes on thick white bread with a ton of peanut butter and jelly - I took a bite of it. I didn't even feel bad taking a bite of a pb&j while drinking a beer in public.
The little monster that chose the place loved her cheeseburgers and her fries. When the monsters are happy, we can enjoy our craft beer in peace, and the world is a better place.
Next time we go I want to try the wings. Definitely plan on going back in the future!
Also, I LOVE the craft beer wallpaper they have up. Wish I took a picture. Next time! -
- Andrea M.
- West Milwaukee, WI
- 5 friends
- 27 reviews
6/28/2015
2 check-insWe have been here a couple of times. This place has amazing burgers. I love that there is never a long wait. We got the buffalo burger. Expect to pay approximately $13-16 for a burger. Beer are anywhere from $5-9. It's a little pricey but worth it in my opinion.
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- Kayla S.
- Chicago, IL
- 9 friends
- 24 reviews
8/3/2015
Ordered Online with YelpShrimp burger is a work of art. Full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The truffle fries are not overwhelming, there's a good balance with everything. Service can be hit or miss but honestly, put one of those burgers in front of me and I am not going to a give a f*** that the waitress forgot to bring me extra napkins. Solid burger place. Pricey, but you get what you pay for.
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- Chris D.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 148 reviews
6/21/2015
One of the worst Burgers I have had. Increasingly disappointing as it was from a Burger specialist restaurant. When I ordered my Burger from the Bartender, I made it very clear the burger had to be a perfect medium. He said he understood. When the burger came out and I took my first bite, It was the most well done burger I have probably ever had. Because I was starving due to a busy traveling day, I deciding to eat that cardboard vs sending it back. That was a mistake. It was just so unenjoyable. I told the the bartender however and he totally did not give a shit. His response was one of those, "ok, uh huh, uh huh, ok". All while having that clueless I don't give a fuk look on his face.
I believe in giving places one more chance, as I will do this supposed Burger specialist.
Oh, the beers were good however. -
- Winston Y.
- Lyons, IL
- 0 friends
- 8 reviews
6/26/2015
I can say I had an ok time here.
The place was nicely decorated, and the service was good, but I didn't find much on the beer menu I liked. I think they had six beers on from Moody Tongue? Was there a tap takeover I wasn't aware of?
My wife and I ordered their macaroni and cheese, but it was very soupy and without much flavor.
I ordered my burger med-rare. It came out med-well, but the flavors were good. It was the Firehouse with El Diablo on the side, and I'm glad for that because it was HOT, which I did enjoy.
My wife's burger, the Hey Shortay, was rare as she asked, but she didn't care for it at all. There wasn't a lot of flavor, and it completely fell apart. Maybe they need a heartier bun for all the extra juice from the short ribs?
The important question... Would I go back? Yes if I'm in the neighborhood, but I'll leave the mac and short ribs for someone else. -
- Gabriel G.
- Chicago, IL
- 2 friends
- 2 reviews
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6/3/2014 Updated review
1 check-inListed in The Yelp 100 ChallengeImpress your friends with Burger Bar.
I returned for lunch on Memorial Day after a long, sunny day at the beach with a group of 7 friends. We were seated immediately and chose to soak in more sun on their outdoor patio. I like, I like.
While we were taking our sweet time to order because we were waiting on another friend to arrive, our server went over the highlights. He was kinda awkward and a little condescending when someone asked how the menu is laid out and about making the burger at a certain temperature. That's the ish I don't like. Maybe he was just dehydrated?
Everyone ordered a couple cold ones and a different funky menu item. I stuck with my veg burger, hubby had gyro, friends had forgettaboutit, wings, pulled pork mac, turkey burger and bison burger. Everyone loved it. I was proud of my restaurant-picking skillz. We enjoyed our time and didn't feel rushed even though the server kept being slightly weird.
He did seperate our checks without giving us a hard time so that was a plus for a large group and we didn't get charged automatic gratuity or fees. Our waters were refilled 24/7 without being asked which was also essential on this mega hot day.
Thanks for making me look slightly cool in front of my friends, BB!This isn't my top veggie burger spot in the city, but it's on the top 3 for sure. I come here pretty… This isn't my top veggie burger spot in the city, but it's on the top 3 for sure. I come here pretty often as I'm always in the neighborhood and have always had a pretty good time here. They have pretty decent drink specials and cool music playing.3/6/2013 Previous review
the space is large with light wood booths and tables and even a patio area that's open during the summer. I usually get their veggie burger that has avocado and a yummy mayo sauce. the mac and cheese is pretty solid too as well as their sweet potato fries. I wish they had another option but their salads are $10+and all have chicken and there's nothing much else. I can't expect a whole veggie section wherever I go, but that would be nice :). I will probably keep coming back here as it's so convenient and the service is always really quick and friendly. Read more -
- Natalia K.
- Chicago, IL
- 76 friends
- 350 reviews
- Elite ’15
12/9/2014
Listed in Groupon GamblesHad a groupon for two so I stopped in with a friend. I was super excited to have a good burger because I've been craving. The deal gave us two beers, an app, and two burgers. The beer list is pretty awesome, so I was excited to try a crafty stout and it was obsidian and it was good.
The fried pickles are obscenely good as well. Put a 5 calorie tasty snack into an even tastier fried shell, add some thousand island dressing or whatever the dip was, and yum- you've got yourself an appetizer people will fight over.
For my burger I chose the Wild Bill because I like bison meat and it makes me feel like I went with a healthier option even though I was in for an unhealthy meal overall. I also chose the sweet potato fries for the same reason and I've heard good things about them from my fellow yelpers.
The burger had goat cheese, arugula, and a tomato chutney on it. The tomato chutney was a bit much so I scooped half of it off. I want the flavor, but not anything to overwhelm my burger. The goat cheese was perfect. The burger was well-cooked, however, when I would get to the untopped ends, it was oversalted. I have an issue with things being overly salty because I don't add much salt to my own cooking or prepared foods and I am sensitive to it. Maybe I should have left the rest of the chutney on it to counter the saltiness. But my companion said his burger was salty as well and it wasn't just the chorizo in his firehouse selection.
Atmosphere and service was casual and comfortable and I could see myself coming here again before or after my North/Clybourn shopping trips. There are a couple more burgers on this menu I'd like to try, as well as the mac n cheese and shakes! -
- Catherine G.
- Honolulu, HI
- 22 friends
- 155 reviews
- Elite ’15
1/3/2015
1 check-inWe ended up at the Burger Bar quite by accident. We had to do an errand and pick up a bunch of Apple products for my company and we needed to have lunch. Yelp said Burger Bar was close by, so we came here.
Sat at a table in the bar area as the rest of the restaurant looked full. We were impressed with the selection of beers and were curious about their pretzels, so we ordered one. Let's start with the good: The pretzel...was just like we would have found in Germany. Turns out one of the co-owners who was working that day and sat us - had family ties to Germany and knew a thing or two about making authentic pretzels. It was the large pretzels just like you would get during Oktoberfest in Munchen.
We both had different burgers - french dip burger and the shortay burger.....and really had a hard time finishing all of it - due to the pretzel we'd shared. I had the sweet potato tater tots. They were pretty darn good and it was all I could do to not keep eating them - even after I was too full!
The bad: The traffic getting there, the lack of free parking, and prices. The burger is gourmet for sure, but its also a hefty price for that burger. And for lunch I hadn't planned on eating that much or paying that much. Still, I'd do it again, though maybe a lot earlier in the day so that we can deal with traffic....and not feel bloated for the rest of the day....
Now.. the co-owner had mentioned he was looking to set up in DC.... hope to see you soon in our neck of the woods!!! -
11/16/2014
1 check-in"Mmm, hmm. That IS a tasty burger... I DO like the taste of a good burger."
Perfectly-cooked, grass-fed burger. A buck fifty for the cheese is a little steep, but the brie and grilled onions hit the spot. Great whiskey selection. I could have done with fewer TVs, but I guess that's football season in Chicago. I don't know whether it was intentional or not, but our server looked like she was separated at birth from Morticia on The Addams Family. Very attentive and competent, though.
Oh, and the fries? The fries! Hand cut often means greasy and soggy (I'm looking at you, Al's #1 Beef!). Here, they are perfectly crisp on the outside, hot & moist on the inside. I stole one of my friend's truffle oil fries, and those were worth the extra buck.
One little fault in the men's room: there was a very small puddle of water between the sink and the urinal. I don't know about you, but the guessing game about where it originated is not one I want to play in a restaurant. Otherwise clean; so I'm going to ignore it & assume that the plumber was on the way. -
- Brandon B.
- Evanston, IL
- 1 friend
- 10 reviews
3/14/2015
1 check-inTook a trip here for a senior dinner with the guys in my fraternity. Overall it was a good experience. We made a reservation and were able to get in a few minutes early.
The waiter was very helpful and friendly and didn't mess up any of our orders which is really impressive for a group of our size. The food came out within a reasonable timeframe which was also good.
The menu has a lot of different specialty burgers or you can build your own. They also have a nice selection of appetizers. A few guys also ordered their shakes and liked them as well.
The alcohol selection was good, and they have some specials on that.
One slight con is that the place is a bit pricey($15-$20 burgers), but I would say it is a decent value despite the price. The burgers are a good size. I would go back again. -
12/19/2014
1 check-inGood sports bar vibe. We got seated immediately on a weeknight, always a plus in my book. Service was friendly and efficient. Beer list looks decent. I made the mistake of getting one of their signature burgers - the lamb burger with lamb sausage. It was huge and flavors were way too complicated. The sweet potato fries were excellent. Next time I'll BYO burger with a beer to wash it down.
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- Michael J.
- Arlington Heights, IL
- 0 friends
- 5 reviews
5/20/2015
Stopped in on Wednesday as it opened. Ordered wild bill burger (bison with arugula and goat cheese with tomato chutney) with a side of the truffle fries. Solid burger, goat cheese was a little over powering, but tasty none the less. Truffle fries were worth the $1.00 up charge, melt in your mouth delicious. Good selection of beers and decent drink specials. Overall a solid burger joint if you are in the area and itching for a burger.
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4/1/2014
2 check-insQuite possibly the best thing about Burger Bar: They have a photo booth inside!
Quite possible the saddest thing about Burger Bar: They charge $3 for the photos. I'm spoiled by events in which the booths are free so I take it for granted.
I met a friend for dinner here before going out to a show. I arrived first so hung out at the bar for awhile solo and had some brews. They had Evil Twin's Hipster Ale! Not only was the can awesome but it was quickly put into my top ten list of favorite beers. I'm actually planning on picking some up from Binny's next weekend, so thanks for introducing me to that, Burger Bar. The bartender who took care of me was nice & attentive, no issues at all while hanging at the bar. They have a great beer list + daily specials.
When we moved to a table, our waitress was uber nice. I had a really hard time deciding what to order but in the end went with the Belly Burger for $15. I thought the burger would be just pork belly, but it actually was a normal burger with cider-braised pork belly on top, plus apple slaw and roasted garlic aioli. Needless to say, that baby was so thick, I had issues getting it between my lips. I liked it but didn't love it finding the pork belly didn't have the same mouthwatering flavor I'm used to.
i got their mac & cheese to go so that I could try some for dinner the following night. All of the mac & cheeses are $6 and the portions are huge. They have 6 types of mac & cheese, all of which sounded really good. I went with the crispy prosciutto because...uh....prosciutto is amazing! This dish did not disappoint at all and I think I actually preferred it over my burger. I'd love to try more of the mac & cheese options on my next visit. Really I wish I lived in the area so I could order a mac & cheese and beer and just have a lovely dinner at the bar.
I wouldn't hesitate to go back but will probably give a different burger next time because the pork belly didn't blow me away. So many that sound so good, I know it won't be trouble picking one out! -
- Leo V.
- Chicago, IL
- 1 friend
- 4 reviews
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10/1/2014
Dropped in for my first full-meal visit (had the shakes before) thanks to a recent Groupon offer, $30 for two burgers and two shakes. Given the normal menu prices, I thought it would be a good time to drop in.
Whoa. I very rarely give five-star ratings on my first try, so I want to come back one more time just to make sure what happened really did happen, but we tried the Hot & Smokey and the Big Shoulder Blues...both burgers were sensational. Although I fought too much with the skin on my hot link on the Hot & Smokey, there was a hot link SANDWICHED IN-BETWEEN PULLED PORK AND A CHEESEBURGER. Yes, this was the only meal I had yesterday. Fries were good, but my wife reported that the sweet potato fries were a disappointment. Also disappointing--the root beer float we ordered was essentially served frozen, so you couldn't actually drink it without pouring more root beer onto the float. (Root beer bottle was not granted with the original order, FYI...yes, I'm a shake snob.) The second shake we got, a plain chocolate shake, was very well spun and thick, just the way daddy likes it.
I will go back to make sure these burgers are as good as I think they are...a very happy surprise that this was so good. I know, 600+ Yelpers can't be wrong, but with burgers, I have trust issues. -
9/15/2014 Updated review
Listed in Good BurgerMeh, is all I can muster for you these days. You used to be a recommended joint, not so much any more.
It has been a little over a year since my last visit and you have gone downhill. Mushy Tot's, adequate burger, okay selection of items... you have gone corporate and no longer seem to be edgy. Maybe you never were and I have experienced a better burger elsewhere.
If it were not for the bar I might even dare to say Epic is out performing you on taste in that hood.
Over Priced and Under Delivered.This place started on the wrong foot for sure as we rode the bikes up after a day on the water and… This place started on the wrong foot for sure as we rode the bikes up after a day on the water and decided to sit outside. Well we sat and sat, yes they knew we were there, for 30 min waiting for something other than water and a full ass menu of delicious sounding food.7/25/2011 Previous review
Wandered inside with the group and politely told them we would like a table for 6 inside as that seemed to offer us a better chance of being served... that is when they kicked into high gear and started to earn stars back ASAP.
We started with a few plates of fried pickles and a selection of beers for the table from their nice list. I asked for a recco our server was on top of their choices and she made a nice call.
High Hog for me, a friend dared to challenge the El Diablo (OMG HOT but very good), a Belly Up and the others did the Burger Bar to make em to their liking. Not one complaint... except for Mr El Diablo "man this is fk'n hot". Quite a filling meal, plan on a food coma after dining here, not for a person with a small appetite at all.
Big thank you to the hostess and our server for making sure, despite the bad start, we were taken care of. I know we will be back. Read more -
- Philly G.
- Chicago, IL
- 20 friends
- 181 reviews
6/7/2015
Ordered through grubhub. Estimated delivery was about an hour and 20mins. Waited an hour and 40 before calling grubhub cause my food still hadn't arrived. Grubhub calls the restaurant and they say the driver will be there in 15-20 mins. Wait another 20 mins still no food. Call grubhub again who calls the restaurant again and then they say they have no recollection of my order. Grubhub updated order in works, you said it would arrive and then no recollection. Really? Got my money refunded but would never order here again.
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- Cynthia R.
- Chicago, IL
- 15 friends
- 158 reviews
- Elite ’15
10/21/2014
A group of us were in the mood for burgers on a Saturday afternoon and gave Burger Bar a try because of the 4 Star rating. We are huge burger aficionados....well, to keep it real, snobs. haha. Anyway, if there was anything that was 4-5 stars about the place, I'd say it was the service. Our party of 10 was greeted and accomodated quite quickly, and the great service continued throughout the meal, thanks to Nick.
The food was ok. Not by any means as good as Bad Apple or Kuma's, but definitely respectable burgers...just not exceptional. One guy in our party who created his own burger, said it was the best burger he'd had. Really?? Well, good for him. The rest of us didn't share that experience. I had the Fuego, which was good, but not at all spicy. Just lacked flavor overall IMO.
We got the bbq pork mac and cheese. It was ok. I am quite a mac and cheese snob though, so it's got to be AMAZING for me to rave over it. Sorry, I just grew up on really fantastic mac and cheese, so I tend to judge it harshly. My bad. The one thing that was delicious was the sweet potato tots. I don't even really like sweet potatoes, but let me tell you, those things were boss! They tasted super fresh and home made.
I'd definitely be willing to give the place another try, but there are a ton of other great burgeries in Chicago to try first! -
8/4/2014
6 check-insListed in Yelp 100 2014This place is great.
i've been for dinner and brunch in the past month or so.
I really enjoyed the variety of burgers and options and ability to create your own burger.
They have deals each day of the week and I think I was there on a wednesday and got wings for $5.
the burgers are really good and have 3-4 great toppings and they even have gluten free sandwich buns which is great. They are $1.50 extra tho.
They have shakes which you can make alcoholic if you're in the mood for that. -
10/2/2014
1 check-inWe came here over the weekend. Weather was beautiful so we ate outside. We ordered the sriracha wings (tasty, preferred the creamy sauce over the other sweet chili sauce), lamb burger and the hot and smokey burger (I was pretty full by the time I finished the wings, but I managed to eat 1/4 of the burger. Great snap to the andouille sausage. Perfectly medium rare like I asked. Nice flavor).
Overall, I enjoyed my meal. The burgers were huge which makes up for the price. If I could do half points, this would be a 3.5 It's a solid place. -
- Scharisse H.
- Roselle, IL
- 10 friends
- 1 review
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- Aya M.
- North Olmsted, OH
- 2 friends
- 11 reviews
6/9/2015
1 check-inWe went in late. Not too late, but they made us feel unwelcome. They got the other order completely wrong, my shrimp burger was undercooked... I guess they weren't concerned with food poisoning. Very disappointed. The only reason I gave them 2 stars were because the shakes.
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- Anabella J.
- Chicago, IL
- 4 friends
- 62 reviews
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- Kurt S.
- Chicago, IL
- 75 friends
- 4 reviews
4/6/2015
A good burger place should make you want to go home after and do nothing for the rest of the night...that's what I'm doing now. My roommate was hungry for a burger and suggested this place. I've seen it a few times but had places to be then so I've never been able to come in. Now I'm kicking myself for not coming sooner. They have a good beer selection so I was happy from the start.
We split the pulled pork Mac and cheese (really good but not the best I've ever had) and poutine (truly amazing, I'll dream about that gravy later). Now for the burgers, we both liked the look of the French dip burger and the big shoulder blues. So we got those and split them. We were happy with both of those well conceived burgers. Afterwards, my friend got the strawberry shortcake milkshake and said that the only problem he had was that he wanted there to be actual bits of shortcake in it. I read another review saying that they felt the whipped cream was low quality but we found out that it's made in house so maybe the other reviewer had it on an off night or maybe they are just too used to store bought stuff.
All in all we had a great time. Joseph, our server, was great and the food and drinks were great. Next time I go I'll be signing up for the mug club there. -
- Jason K.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 11 reviews
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- Neal S.
- Chicago, IL
- 80 friends
- 11 reviews
4/3/2015
Pros:
-Big 1/2 pound flavorful burgers (most places are 1/3 lb)
-Sweet potato tots (only place I've seen these)
Cons:
-Low grade whipping cream used to top shakes
Bottom Line:
One of the better burger places in Chicago I've been to, definitely worth checking out. Get the Banana Nutella shake.
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Business info summary
-
- Today
- 11:30 am - 10:00 pm Open now
-
-
$$
- Price range
- $11-30
Hours
| Mon | 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | |
|---|---|---|
| Tue | 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | |
| Wed | 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | |
| Thu | 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | Open now |
| Fri | 11:00 am - 11:00 pm | |
| Sat | 11:00 am - 11:00 pm | |
| Sun | 11:00 am - 9:00 pm |
More business info
-
- Takes Reservations
- Yes
- Delivery
- No
- Take-out
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Yes
- Good For
- Lunch, Dinner
- Parking
- Valet, Street
- Bike Parking
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Yes
- Good for Kids
- Yes
- Good for Groups
- Yes
- Attire
- Casual
- Ambience
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Average
- Alcohol
- Full Bar
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Has TV
- Yes
- Waiter Service
- Yes
- Drive-Thru
- No
- Caters
- No
From the business
Its all about the burgers. Our hand crafted burgers use only fresh, high quality ingredients. Fresh cut fries, unique sides and killer shakes round out the menu. Our stacked burgers are …
Learn more about Burger Bar Chicago , Opens a popupSpecialties
Its all about the burgers. Our hand crafted burgers use only fresh, high quality ingredients. Fresh cut fries, unique sides and killer shakes round out the menu. Our stacked burgers are the standouts at Burger Bar. Stacked with flavor, texture and juicy goodness.
History
Established in 2010.
John McLean is the chef proprietor of Good Eats Restaurant Groups Burger Bar Chicago and Sono Wood Fired that both opened in early August of 2010 in Chicago's new and upcoming Sono neighborhood.
Understanding his guests and the environment in which they enjoy his food, John specializes in, but not limited to regional American, American Barbecue, Italian, Asian and Latin cuisine exhibiting a mastery of time honored cooking techniques using the best ingredients. John brings to his company a passion for food, creativity, craft beer, wine and service as well as over two-decades of culinary and menu development experience.
Meet the Business Owner
Previous to launching Good Eats Restaurant Group, John held the position of Chef d' Cuisine for Levy Restaurants, an innovative and market leader of restaurants and premium sports dining. Driven by a restaurateur mentality and approach to the business John's inspiration helped give Levy Restaurants stature in the food industry by winning several of the most prestigious awards such as the Ivy Award, an award given to companies for achieving excellence and making an impact in the food industry. John focused on creative recipe and menu development, new culinary techniques and food styles. McLean led the menu development process for the private club restaurants, luxury suites, and exclusive private event catering for all of Levy's Sports and Entertainment properties and in so doing has had the opportunity to plan innovative and fun menus for some of the most prestigious sporting events, including four Super Bowls, Playboy Super Bowl parties, multiple NBA, NHL and MLB All-Star Games and the
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